The Washington critic., 1887-02-15
CLEVELAND IN 80.

CLEVELAND IN 'ss.
The politicians generally agree that
the selection of Mr.. Cleveland by the
next Democratic National Convention
for second Presidential term Is y fore
gone conclusion, unless he should posi-.
lively decline to be % candidate. Yet
there is not single act OF his admins.
tration that can be construed politically
as baving reference TO the promotion OF
his chances for denomination.
If he has done anything or omitted
TO do anything, to advance his own In
terests in this direction, or even bear.
ing such an appearance, we fail TO re.
call 1t, excepting in the general sense
that he has given honest and hborious
attention to the discharge of his ex.
ecutive duties. On the contrary, there
has never been President, from the be.
ginning of the Government who, during
the first two years Of his incumbCucy,
was so harshly criticised by leading
members Of his own political house.
hold, or who so assiluously couttcd
the unpopularity that always more or
less attaches to an Independent and oh.
s,inate line Of policy.
He has been roundly abused for ap.
pointmcnts that he did make, and Is
still abused for appointments that he
does not make There was time
when we were told that he had hope.
1essly rent in twain the party which
elected him; that he was proving a
traitor to his friends; that through
him the first triumph of the National
had been perverted TO final and hu.
initiating disaster. Even to-day, we
have not far to go to find Democrats
who declare that they take no stock"
in the Administration, and charge the
President with having practically
wrecked the Democratic organization.
How does 1t happen, then, that he
holds the combination for 1882
How can 1t be accounted for that the
very party which he Is accused of re.
pudiating-the party which was to rise
up In Its wrath and repudiate the Presi-
dent--is now ready to put him In the
field again as It's standard. bearer ?
There seems to be something anomalous
in such condition Of things.
Mr.. Cleveland has, no doubt, made
mistakes. Under the peculiar circum.
stances of his accession to the Presi-
dency, mistakes were natural and TO be
expected. lie has made some appoint,
ments that he has had cause to re yret.
He was unques,lonably wrong in the
Matthews matter, and SO made himself
vulnerable to the thrusts of partisan
Senate. In pursuance of his cardinal
principle of making public Office a
public trust, lie has apparently forgot
ten ut times that the application of this
principle Is not atall incompatible with
devotion to party interests. He now
and then forgets that there may be
''claims" to recognition by reason of
long and faithful political service that
cannot properly be ignored.
Fd all this, however, nobody ques.
tlons President Cleveland's sincerity
and incorruptibility. Not even his Sc.
verest critic has ever intimated that he
was animated by other than spirit OF
honest zeal for the welfare of his
country, and perhaps, more than any
of his predecessors during the same
period Of service, has he exemplifled
that an administration which sets oul
with purpose to do right and deal
justly, regardless Of sectional or parti
san clamor, maintaining its position
with consistency and courage, soor
grows into the confidence of the people
with tcnacity and is predcstined to sue,
cess.
OF the Presidents courage and con
sistency he has furnished numerou;
and some of them notable instances.
He has on more than one occasion ex.
asperatod his Democratic friends to the
point OF revolt, but the reaction has al.
most invariably been in the President
favor. In the veto OF the Dependent
Pension bill, with two.thirds of Con.
gress recorded in It's support and the
"soldier vote" of the country at i'm.
mi ient risk, be exhibited firmness and
courage of the Jacksoniau standard.
Right or wrong, he stands ready to
shoulder the consequences.
Such man the Democratic party is
bound TO respect, even If 1t cannot love
Where else can 1t find anchorage
Whom else can 1t nominate with siml
lar weight of popular endorsement
What Democrat more worthy of thu
honors of the party, than he who bes
consults It's interests by wise and efil
cient administration of public affairs
Mr.. MANHINo's : retirement from th,
head Of the Treasury Department de
wolves upon the President the early
selection of another member of hi
Cabinet-the most importap, appolot
ment of any In his gift-anl although
he may find II matter Of some din
Guilty TO find Secretary 50 personally
near to him as Mr., Manning, there
should lie abundant material in tht
Democratic party from which to selecI
one equally deserving and competent
If The CRITIc were to name the
man 1t might be tempted to go to In
diana for n certain distinguished ex
Senator, but 1t would probably halt IL
Ohio. There is a statesman of the
Buckeye State who is certainly nearer
TO the President than any other man II
this country on the question OF civil